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Six matches today for the Etisalat Pro-League

All 12 Etisalat Pro-League teams will tackle it out today, Thursday December 23, in the decisive 11th week which marks the end of the first Round of 2010-2011 football League championship.

The Etisalat Pro-League will break throughout January to allow for the training program of the UAE Senior National Team who will commence their preparations on Friday December 24 before taking part in the Asian Championship which will be hosted by Qatar next month.

Three matches will kick-off today at 6:15pm whilst the remaining three games are set to kick off at 8:30pm. Al Dhafra will travel from the Western Region to the capital Abu Dhabi to face Al Wahda. Both teams have lost their previous encounters and are therefore looking to compensate with a win to add three points to their balance and help them end the first stage of the season in a better position. The hosts have collected 15 points from four wins, three draws and two loses which see them in 4th position, while the visitors have lost six games, won and drawn twice to be second from bottom with 8 points.

Al Ahli will have a big challenge when they host second-placed Bani Yas but will hope to redeem themselves after being beaten 3-1 at home in Round 10 by Al Shabab. Bani Yas, who have 24 points, will be fighting to keep on their winning march and stay close to current Al Jazira. They could even move into 1st position if they secure a win and Al Jazira lose today to Dubai. Al Ahli are sitting in 6th  place with 14 points, ten points less than their competitors Bani Yas. They are likely to miss the efforts of five of their key players, namely defender Mohammed Jasim after collecting three yellow cards, Badr Abdul Rahman due to a red card, along with goalkeeper Obaid Al Taweela, and their two defenders Adil Abdul Aziz and Cannavaro due to injury.

In the third match of today's program, Al Ain will face Dubai-based Al Shabab at Tahnoon Bin Mohammed Stadium. The home squad will play this game under the guidance of assistant coach Ahmad Abdullah who was appointed as caretaker coach following the dismissal of the ex-coach Abdul Hameed Al Mistiki. Al Ain Administration has reached a deal with Brazilian coach Alexander Gallo who is due to arrive tonight. The new coach will follow the match from the sideline and is likely to start his coaching duties after this game to begin preparing the team for the match against Al Dhafra next Thursday, December 30 in the 7th week of Etisalat Cup competition.

Al Jazira will play against Dubai with the hope of continuing their winning streak and retaining their leadership of the Etisalat Pro-League table . They are the only team who have been undefeated in ten successive games, while Dubai has lost seven matches and won three to be in 10th place with 9 points. Dubai, Bani Yas and Al Shabab are the only three teams who haven't drawn so far this season.

In the other two matches of the round, Al Nasr will meet Kalba at Al Maktoum Stadium and Sharjah will host Al Wasl at their ground. Al Nasr beat Al Wasl 3-2 in the last game to stay in 8th position with 13 points while Kalba lost to Dubai with a solitary goal to remain at the bottom of the table with only four points. Sharjah who are in 7th place with 14 points will be looking to increase their tally and stay closer to the leading teams, the same ambition of Al Wasl who will hope to jump to 19 points and be one of the main teams competing for the title.